US Patent 11465359 Prevention of unauthorized parts from being 3D-printed

According to some embodiments, systems and methods are provided comprising receiving, via a communication interface of an authorization module comprising a processor, a part file with instructions to manufacture one or more parts with an additive manufacturing machine; generating a shape signature for the part based on the part file; providing a data store storing one or more stored shape signatures, wherein the one or more stored shape signatures are one of an authorized-to-print stored shape signature and an unauthorized-to-print stored shape signature; determining the generated shape signature of the part corresponds to at least one of the authorized-to-print stored shape signatures or at least one of the unauthorized-to-print stored shape signatures; and receiving the determination of whether the generated shape signature of the part corresponds to at least one authorized-to-print stored shape signature or at least one unauthorized-to-print stored shape signature. Numerous other aspects are provided.